News

Clark Clement III and Julie James

April 9, 2012 (KANSAS CITY, Mo.) – Mike Jones, president of United Country Auction Services conducted the auction portion of the 3rd Annual DFW Sporting Clays Event at the Dallas Gun Club on Friday, March 30. The event’s purpose was to raise money to support the missions of Homes For Our Troops, a national organization dedicated “to helping those who have selflessly given to our country and have returned home with serious disabilities and injuries since September 11, 2001.” The auction event raised roughly $12,000 for the organization’s cause.

“I am extremely humbled and honored to have been asked to participate in this year’s event, “said Jones. “At United Country Auctions Services, we encourage everyone to support this cause wherever, whenever they can. This organization has done an outstanding job of assisting those you have given some much for the freedoms we all enjoy here at home.”

One attendee, who did not wish to be identified, purchased three of the live auction items and donated all three to some of the injured veterans in attendance.

“That man truly represented what Homes For Our Troops is all about,” said Jones. “His actions were a reaffirmation of why United Country Auction Services and I want to offer our services and be a part of this patriotic group for years to come.”

The event was focused around a competitive clay shooting contest. The entry fee and auction proceeds will go toward constructing specially adapted homes for America’s severely injured veterans. Approximately 350 shooters competed in the contest.

The event also featured the Naval Color Guard, a military working dog adoption and trick shooting by Travis Mear. The meal consisted of barbecue, sausages and fajitas served by Baker Hughes and Steam Flo.

Homes For Our Troops’ efforts include raising monetary donations, building materials and professional labor, and to coordinate the process of building homes that provides maximum freedom of movement, allowing wounded service members the ability to live more independent lives.

About Homes For Our Troops

Homes For Our Troops is based in Taunton, Mass., and was founded by Gonsalves in 2004. Homes For Our Troops mission is to build specially adapted homes for service members who have been severely injured in combat operations since September 11, 2001. All homes are built at no cost to the veteran through the generous support of individuals, foundations, and corporate contributors.

About United Country Auction Services

United Country Auction Services is a division of United Country Real Estate, the largest fully integrated network of conventional and auction real estate professionals in the United States. The company has been an innovator in real estate marketing since 1925. United Country supports nearly 550 offices across the U.S., Costa Rica, Panama and resort areas of Mexico, with a unique, comprehensive marketing program that includes one of the largest portfolios of property marketing websites (more than 3,000 separate sites and traffic of approximately 3 million visitors per month), multiple United Country real estate catalogs with national distribution , an extensive buyer database and national advertising of local properties that reaches more than 90 million homes per week. United Country has recently been recognized by Franchise Business Review, AllBusiness.com, The Land Report, Entrepreneur and The Wall Street Journal as one of the top U.S. real estate companies.

(L to R) Auctioneer Mike Jones with Colleen Coyle, WFAA Channel 8 and ABC Good Morning America substitute Meteorologist and Lori Jones enjoying the festivities at the SPCA of Texas-Fur Ball 2011.

Sept. 26, 2011 (Dallas, Texas) – The SPCA of Texas Fur Ball 2011 brought out some of North
Texas’ heaviest hitters Saturday night, September 24 at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. The sold
out gala crowd showed up ready to lend their support to one of the state’s largest animal
welfare agency. The SPCA’s largest annual fundraiser had it all, high energy, exquisite cuisine,
funky 70’s music, casino action and a big time live auction conducted by veteran auctioneer,
Mike Jones, President of United Country Auction Services.

“The Live Auction and Cash for Critters campaign brought in well over $110,000 which exceeded
2010” according to event co-chair Tricia Linderman of Texas Capital Bank. “Our top selling
live auction items this year included a year’s supply of wine for $16,500, an Austin Spa Resort
package, $9,000, Get Out of the Doghouse package $6,500, Dallas Cowboys tickets with a photo
op on the field with Fox Sports Troy Aikman and Joe Buck $5,500 and a special dinner with wine
pairings at Pappas Steak House bringing in $4,500” according to co-chair Jessica Columbo, wife
of former Dallas Cowboy player Mark Columbo who continues to reside in the Dallas area.

“It was a fantastic night for SPCA of Texas and the funds raised are tremendously needed
to reach our goals and continue our mission” said, SPCA of Texas, President James Bias,
adding, “Our auctioneer Mike Jones and his “A” Team did a great job as always. We very much
appreciate Mike’s involvement and United Country’s”

The group is already busy reviewing this year’s event and planning for Fur Ball 2012.

About the SPCA of Texas

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Texas (SPCA of Texas) is the leading
animal welfare agency in North Texas with two shelters and two spay/neuter clinics located in
Dallas and McKinney, and serves as an active resource center providing an array of programs
and services that bring people and animals together to enrich each others’ lives.

In 2010, the SPCA of Texas served the Metroplex community in many ways including Animals
Admitted: 8,280, Animals Adopted: 5,408, Animal Cruelty Investigations: 2,379, Animals
Rescued: 857, Clinic Visits: 26,011, Spay/Neuter Surgeries: 16,862, Employees: 119, Volunteers:
519, Programs and Services: Education Attendees: 13,229. The agency serves Dallas, Ellis,
Fannin, Grayson, Hunt, Kaufman, Van Zandt and Rains counties. To learn more about SPCA of

Texas or to become a volunteer, go to: www.spca.org

About United Country Auction Services and Auctioneer Mike Jones

United Country Auction Services is a division of United Country Real Estate, the largest fully
integrated network of conventional and auction real estate professionals in the United States.
The company has been an innovator in real estate marketing since 1925. United Country supports
nearly 600 offices across the U.S., Costa Rica, Panama and resort areas of Mexico, with a unique,
comprehensive marketing program that includes one of the largest portfolios of property marketing
websites (more than 3,000 separate sites and traffic of approximately 3 million visitors per month),
multiple United Country real estate catalogs with national distribution , an extensive buyer
database and national advertising of local properties that reaches more than 90 million homes
per week. United Country has recently been recognized by AllBusiness.com, The Land Report,
Entrepreneur and The Wall Street Journal as one of the top U.S. real estate companies. To learn
more about United Country Auction Services go to www.ucauctionservices.com. To learn more
about Auctioneer Mike Jones and his “A” Team, go to www.classicauctioneers.com.

###

Walter Robb, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director of Whole Foods, Inc., Mike Jones, President of United Country Auction Services, and Bill Shore, Founder and Executive Director of Share Our Strength®, participate in the Texas No Kid Hungry benefit dinner Tuesday, Oct. 11 at the Driskill Hotel in downtown Austin, Texas.

Oct. 18, 2011 (KANSAS CITY, Mo.) – Mike Jones, president of United Country Auction Services conducted the auction portion of the Texas No Kid Hungry benefit dinner Tuesday, Oct. 11 at the Driskill Hotel in downtown Austin, Texas. The dinner was sponsored by Share Our Strength® and the Texas Hunger Initiative.

The Texas No Kid Hungry Campaign is a public-private partnership with the nation’s leading child antihunger organization Share Our Strength® and the Texas Hunger Initiative, a capacity-building collaborative project out of Baylor University’s School of Social Work. The campaign aims to end childhood hunger by using proven strategies to increase the number of Texas children who eat the
nutritious meals offered at schools such as the School Breakfast and Summer Meals Programs, according the Share Our Strength® website.

Speakers at the event included Bill Shore, founder and executive director of Share Our Strength®, Walter Robb, co-chief executive officer and director of Whole Foods, Inc., and Kirk Rudy, CEO of Austin-based Endeavor Real Estate Group.

The auction allowed attendees the opportunity to bid on a trip for two to Sonoma, Calif., a Chicago Culinary getaway, dinner for four at Congress Restaurant in Austin, a New York City Jazz and Soul Food Tour and a personalized in-home healthy cooking demo and dinner for 10 provided by Whole Foods. All proceeds from the event went to benefit the Texas No Kid Hungry Campaign.

About United Country

United Country Auction Services is a division of United Country Real Estate, the largest fully integrated network of conventional and auction real estate professionals in the United States. The company has been an innovator in real estate marketing since 1925. United Country supports nearly 600 offices across the U.S., Costa Rica, Panama and resort areas of Mexico, with a unique, comprehensive marketing program that includes one of the largest portfolios of property marketing websites (more than 3,000 separate sites and traffic of approximately 3 million visitors per month), multiple United Country real estate catalogs with national distribution , an extensive buyer database and national advertising of local properties that reaches more than 90 million homes per week.

United Country has recently been recognized by AllBusiness.com, The Land Report, Entrepreneur and The Wall Street Journal as one of the top U.S. real estate companies. To learn more about United Country Auction Services go to www.ucauctionservices.com. To learn more about Auctioneer Mike Jones and his Team, go to www.classicauctioneers.com.

Dallas, TX — The Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth held the 2011 Sun & Star Legacy Award Dinner and Auction benefitting the residents of Sendai, Japan, Victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake, Thursday, April 28 at the Four Seasons Resort and Club, Dallas at Las Colinas.

The evening started with a cocktail reception for dignitaries hosted by former Dallas Mayor and United States Senatorial Candidate Tom Leppert along with Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief and wife Rosie who served as honorary hosts for the event. Evening highlights included an address by Keynote Speaker Thomas W. Horton, President of AMR Corporation and American Airlines, Inc., a toast by The Honorable Takahiko Watabe, Deputy Consul-General of Japan and the presentation of the Bridges-to-Friendship Award presented by Mayor Moncrief to John H. Stich, Honorary Consul General of Japan at Dallas. The Sun & Star Legacy Award was then presented to Thomas W. Horton of AMR and American Airlines.

Following the awards dinner, attendees were treated to a Live Auction conducted by United Country President Mike Jones that included exotic trips, sports packages and unique items followed by a “Fund-A-Relief” campaign. Highlights of the auction included multiple international trips via American Airlines and JAL, Dallas Mavericks Autographed ball and package, Spa trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico, Nolan Ryan Package including a Texas Rangers Baseball Club Suite, Dallas Cowboys package and more.

Sponsors for the event included United Country Auction Services, 7-11, Inc., American Airlines, DFW Airport, Texas Instruments, Ernst & Young, Toyota, Haynes and Boone, LLP and others.

The Third Annual Hope Gala Benefiting Operation Kindness, April 17, 2011, Sambuca 360, Plano, Texas. Front Row (L to R): Nikki Walker, Development Director and Julie Goff, Special Events Manager. Back Row (L to R): Rob Ruhde, Montie Davis, Lawrence Bock, Bachendorf’s Fine Jewelers, Auctioneer Mike Jones, United Country Auction Services and Classic Auctioneers, Lori Jones, Sherwin Daryani, Exec. Director.

Plano, TX — Nothing short of magical could describe The Third Annual Hope Gala Benefiting Operation Kindness at Sambuca 360 in Plano, Texas Sunday evening April 17th.

The Live Auction and Fund-the-Mission raised $57,900 in 2010 and this year’s event organizers were reluctant to make predictions about 2011. However, any concerns they may have had faded quickly as those in attendance eliminated any need for worry.

There were six items offered in the Live Auction and things were moving along according to plan. Dinner for 20 at Capital Grille brought in $2,700, Napa Trip $6,000, diamond necklace $7,000 and then the tide changed for the night as item number six, a dining package to some of Dallas’ best restaurants sold for $5,250 to bidder number 132 who responded with “Sell it again!” donating the package back. The second high bidder number 179 also gave $5,250 and proceeded to donate it back. The third high bidder gave $5,500 for the package, and once again, they donated it back as did the next bidder who also gave $5,500. Ultimately, the Dallas dining package sold two more times for $4,000 each, bringing in an amazing $29,500 for a dining package valued at $1,745.

Auctioneer Mike Jones of United Country Auction Services and Classic Auctioneers had a lot of fun with the process and praised the crowd commenting “in my 32 years, this is the first time I have had an item bring in over $5,000 and have it donated back six times.” After the dust settled, the Live Auction and Fund-the-Need brought in $99,900. Hearing the auction total, Jones made the announcement to the crowd and offered up the final $100 to take the auction total to the $100,000 mark.

Operation Kindness is the oldest and largest no-kill shelter in North Texas. Since 1976, Operation Kindness has found loving new homes for more than 65,000 unwanted and abandoned cats and dogs. This year’s event was the single largest fundraiser Operation Kindness has ever held.

About United Country Auction Services, Auctioneer Mike Jones and Classic Auctioneers
United Country Auction Services is a division of United Country Real Estate, the nation’s largest integrated real estate and Auction Company. Established in 1925, United Country supports over 600 offices nationwide, operates over 1300 real estate websites, publishes seven real estate catalogs, maintains an extensive buyer database and is seen by approximately 90 million potential buyer prospects per week. United Country has been recognized by The Land Report as the #1 Auction House in America, Top 25 Franchise by the Wall Street Journal and Top 200 Ranking by Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500®. The United Country mission statement includes philanthropy and community support as a major component of corporate success and works with Classic Auctioneers to realize that commitment. To learn more about United Country Auction Services go to www.ucauctionservices.com or www.classicauctioneers.com to learn more about Auctioneer Mike Jones and his Team.

Mike Jones and Scott Swenson visit with a pre-visit emissary representing the China Association of Auctioneers

Download China Association of Auctioneers national publication. First time an American has been featured in their official auctioneering magazine.

Download this article from the NAA magazine

Download China-Association-of-Auctioneers Magazine

Lori and Mike Jones, (on right) owners of the Texas Auction Academy present a check for $109,450.75 to Dave McKee, COO of ALSAC-St. Jude on behalf of their students and instructors November 17, 2009 at St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis to commemorate the total amount donated by the school to the hospital to date.

January 13, 2010 (DALLAS, TX) – Mike and Lori Jones, Owners of the Texas Auction Academy in Dallas recently returned from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis where they presented a check on behalf of their graduates and instructors in the amount of $109,405.75. The check represents the funds raised by the school since their relationship started with the hospital.

“Ever since I visited the hospital back in 1998, I have been dedicated to having the school conduct an auction each quarter to help raise money for those kids” says Mike Jones, the schools owner who added, “Reaching $100,000 is fantastic but now we have a new target ….$200,000”. Jones went on to say, “There is no way we could have accomplished this without the love, dedication and support of our great students, instructors and staff.”

The visit coincided with the NAA/St. Jude Children’s Auction held annually at the hospital and conducted by the 2009 International Auctioneer Champions. The young cancer patients of St. Jude attend the auction and buy new toys with Danny Dollars named after hospital founder Danny Thomas. The Texas Auction Academy was presented the NAA-ST. JUDE Horizon Award in 2006 for Loyal & Dedicated Service and for Keeping the Dream Alive. The next Texas Auction Academy fundraiser will be held in March during the next class session.

The Texas Auction Academy was founded in 1992 in Dallas, TX by Mike Jones, CAI, GPPA, International Auctioneer Champion and past president of the National and Texas Auctioneers Associations for the purpose of training and educating individuals interested in pursing a career as a professional auctioneer, business owner or auction company staff member. Since 1998, school graduates have conducted fundraising auctions benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. In 2006, the Texas Auction Academy was presented with the Horizon Award by St. Jude Children’s Hospital. The Texas Auction Academy is approved by the Texas Workforce Commission and is recognized as one of the leading auctioneer training schools in the world with graduates from across the U.S., and as far away as China, New Zealand and Canada. Instructors include Champion Auctioneers, Hall of Fame members, Past National and State Association leaders and successful industry specialists. Individuals interested in a career in auctioneering or the Texas Auction Academy should visit the website at www.texasauctionacademy.com or contact Lori Jones at 972-387-4200.

Texas Auctioneers Association President Buddy Thomas presents the 2007 TAA Leadership Award to Mike Jones

Mike Jones, CAI, GPPA, President of Classic Auctioneers, Dallas, TX, United Country Auction Services, Kansas City, MO. and the Texas Auction Academy in Dallas was presented with the 2007 Leadership Award by the Texas Auctioneers Association at their 50th Anniversary Convention, held Saturday, June 16th in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Jones was recognized for his “leadership, untiring efforts, dedication and donations given to the association for the betterment of the professional auctioneer and the auction industry.” Mr. Jones is a Past President, Life Member and 1995 Texas State Champion Auctioneer. He was elected into the Texas Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame in 2005.